In preparation for my up coming Europe trip, today I set out to get my passport photos done. Fed up with always being ashamed of my photo ID’s, today I was determined to take a photo that was a respectable representation of myself! After taking a little extra time to prep and prepare, I’m proud to say for the first time in my life, I actually don’t hate my passport photo! So to share the love, I’ve put together a list of tips and tricks that help me get camera ready!
Tips on how to take a good passport photo:
- Prepare yourself: Take a little extra time to apply make up and groom yourself. Get a hair cut beforehand if you need to, and don’t forget to tweeze those brows too.
- Wear neutral make up: Whether your photo is in color or black and white, colorful makeup can often look garish and unflattering.
- Wear your hair down: Consider wearing your hair down, it’s typically more flatter and frames your face better for these types of photos.
- Plan what to wear: I find collared shirts and blouses always come out well. Stay away from clothes that are loose fitting, they tend to look sloppy in photographs. If you have dark hair, wear a light coloured shirt and vice versa.
- Keep it professional: Remember that you might use the passport photo for many different purposes, such as job applications or official documents, so make sure you dress accordingly.
- Use mattifying face powder: Even if you don’t have particularly oily skin, sometimes the flash of the camera can create a shiny t-zone.
- Practice with selfies: This is the tip of all tips! Taking selfies give you good idea on how your makeup and hair will turn up on camera. Plus you can practice your expression, smize for the camera!
Have any tips of your own to share on taking great photos?
Let me know in the comments below!
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XOXO,
Chrissy
November 27, 2014This is a great idea! It would also work with driver license photos as well!
Nile Flores
November 26, 2014Actually… don’t practice selfies. It’s not formal picture that isn’t suppose to be for smiles. Passports actually have specific guidelines and they really also would like you to not wear glasses. At least that is what I’ve always read in the fine print given by the postmaster when I’ve gone to renew my passport.
Victoria H
November 25, 2014Thanks for these tips. I don’t have a passport yet but these tips will definitely come in handy when I go to get one.
mail4rosey
November 25, 2014Smart tips. The one to dress professional is great, because you’re right we do use it for more than just travel.
Barbie Ritzman
November 24, 2014I so agree with the practicing selfie’s. It really helps! And thanks for the comment below on the wearing white!
Bonnie Gowen @WEMAKE7
November 24, 2014These are some great tips. I don’t think I’ll have to get a passport ever but I’ll keep these in mind.
Patranila
November 24, 2014I used all of these tips in the last government ID photo I took. All except the selfies. They didn’t exist then!
Krystal
November 24, 2014Good idea for your photos! neutral make up is a good idea!
Lisa Bristol
November 24, 2014These are great tips to taking a great photo. I always hate how my pictures turn out on my licence and passport. I will have to follow your tips the next time i have the photos taken.
Lori Bosworth
November 24, 2014Those are great tips for passport photos! In Canada, we are not allowed to smile for our passport photo though, which I dislike 🙂
Mama to 5 Blessings
November 24, 2014I never knew you were not allowed to smile for passport photo’s. I heard recently that someone had a faint smile in their passport and they were not allowed to get into another country. Crazy!
Freya
November 24, 2014Great tips. I will definitely use these tips next time I need my passport photo taken cause they always look terrible.
Fi Ni Neachtain
November 24, 2014Great tips! I quite like my passport photo, it’s in black and white and everyone looks good in black and white I think! 🙂
Kiwi
November 24, 2014Im getting my passport soon definitely loving the tips especially about the clothing. I forgot about its multiple usage for jobs and extra identification purposes.
Elizabeth O.
November 24, 2014I look so awful in my passport! I wish I prepared more before my picture was taken.
Dawn
November 23, 2014I sure could have used these tips a few months ago. My husband and I just got our passports made for our cruise!
Ann Bacciaglia
November 23, 2014I hate my passport photo and wish I had these tips before I was stuck with my latest photo for 5 years. I am going to use your tips when I get my new photo this summer.
Debra Needles
November 23, 2014Those are some great ideas. I would never have thought of practicing with selfies!
Franc Ramon
November 23, 2014I guess the passport photo would be your business card to the world. It would be important to look prim and proper in your passport photos.
Brandy
November 23, 2014I have never had a passport, these sound like pretty great tips. My biggest concern would be to ensure that my passport looks like me on an average day, because if I were traveling where I would need to use a Passport, I would want to make sure that the photo looked similar to me.
JoAnna Kopp
November 23, 2014Very great tips. I wish I went through some efforts to take a better passport photo, but it was after a very long and stressful day. Mine looks more like a mugshot! Your pictures look incredible, though. You look so beautiful and professional!
Mariamichelle117
November 23, 2014Your photo is beautiful. I need to renew my passport in 2015 and I really would love for it to look as nice as yours!
Carra D
November 23, 2014Great tips. Thank for sharing. When I got my license a stranger nearby said something funny to me and I smirked. I liked how it came out lol
Tanya Coffman
November 23, 2014Thanks for the great tips! I can’t wait to get my passport picture done now 😀
Mary Hunter @ Stale Cheerios
November 22, 2014Great tips! I need to get my passport updated soon and have been dreading taking the new photo. I always look horrible in these photos!
Courtney
November 22, 2014Hahahaha love these tips!!! I actually have a fabulous passport photo somehow so I use that thing as id instead of my god awful license lol….
Delia @ Happy Blogger Plaza
November 22, 2014These are some great tips! Oy, those official photos (passport or other) never come out great, haha!
Catherine S
November 22, 2014Thanks for the great tips. I wish I had these before I got my passport. My picture is really bad.
Robin Rue
November 22, 2014Those are great tips! I am very happy with my passport photo. My license picture is another story, though.
Aisha Kristine Chong
November 22, 2014Yeah – practice is definitely important ( Passport photos are ones I hate the most, LOL) I feel like I’m being rushed or something lol…
Jaz
September 10, 2014Great Tips! I am getting a passport soon… I am sure mine would have been horriable without these tips!
Eileen
September 11, 2014Thanks Jaz! Hope it turns out well 🙂
Caroline
September 7, 2014These are genius! You look beautiful in your pics.
xo
styleontheside.com
Eileen
September 9, 2014Thanks dear! xo
Lux @ Bared My Soul
September 6, 2014Very practical. I hate my passport picture too so I will follow these tips next time.
Eileen
September 6, 2014Thanks dear! 🙂
GirlLovesGloss
September 6, 2014Hey Girl! This is something I can definitely weigh in on, since my day job involves taking passport photos! Here are some massively important tips:
Wearing white/ivory is a no-no. It will 95% be rejected for lack of contrast between background and your shirt. Those of us with long dark hair might get away with this.
While they accept both colour and black and white for Canadian passports – I will 100% always recommend colour. It gives a depth to the face that is so much more flattering, and again passport Canada seems to accept them way easier.
As you mentioned the blotting powder is great, but also stay away from super shiny lip gloss, it creates a white flash back that can cause your picture to be rejected.
If you have hair that very easily falls in your eyes, make sure you can style it a way that day that it doesn’t, that is instant rejection. Also – no visible hair clips or headbands are accepted (unless it is a scarf for religious reasons.
And finally – practise before if you are the type who particularly cares what your passport looks like. Don’t wait until you get there and then try and make the photographer take 10 shots until you get one you like. Because I hate to say it, you wont love it. I’ve been taking them for over 10 years and no one ever says “oh I love it!” because you can’t smile in Canadian passports. As a passport photographer, we actually have very strict guidelines we legally and professionally have to follow, so we aren’t there to take a glamour shot of you. Come prepared and ready 🙂
Eileen
September 6, 2014Great tips! I didn’t even think of some of those. Thanks for sharing!!
Cheers,
Eileen